Here Kitty-Kitty!

 This black cat won’t bring you bad luck and he’s a fun project for Halloween.

Things You’ll Need:

• Paper plate (small and large size)
• Black crayon/Black wide pen
• Construction paper (black, green and pink)
• White Pen or white out
• Scissors
• Glue
• Ribbon (any color)
• Hole puncher

 How You Make It:

1. Color two black paper plates – one small and one larger size. Crayons are easier to use, but you can also color the paper plate with markers or colored pencils.
2. Cut out two small ovals from green construction paper for the cat’s eyes. Draw a black dot in the middle of each oval with your crayon. Glue the eyes near the top of the small paper plate.
3. Cut out two triangles from some black construction paper. Glue them to the top of your small paper plate for the cat’s ears. The ears should be apart, so put one on each side of the plate. Add two smaller triangles using pink construction paper to create the center of the ear (see image).
4. Cut out a small triangle from some pink construction paper. Glue it to the middle of the small paper plate for the cat’s nose.
   
5. Cut out a long black tail out of black construction paper (make it as long or squiggly as you would like). Glue to the side of the larger black paper plate.
6. Cut out two small “kitty” feet with small black construction paper circles; you can also add curves to the circle as “toes” (see image) – use a white pen or glue to draw lines for toes.
7. Glue the small and larger black paper plates together (i.e. connected the head to the body). Wait at least ten minutes for the glue to dry. For faster results you can use a stapler to connect the two plates.
   
8. Tie a bow with 1.5 feet of ribbon.
9. Glue the ribbon to the “neck” of the cat where the two plates are connected.
10. Wait for the glue to dry and you are done.
11. Using a hole puncher, poke one hole at the top of the cat’s head and string a ½ foot of ribbon through the hole. Tie the ribbon in a knot to hang the cat on your front door or any door inside the house.

MEOW! NOW THAT IS A CUTE HALLOWEEN KITTY!

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First Visit to the Dentist

You can never start too early for good dental hygiene! Paulo is wearing "Peek-a-Boo Pup" from Le Top's 2010 Fall Collection.

Paulo had his first dentist appointment. I didn’t know what to expect because he’s so young (18 months old). But since his teeth came in early at 5 months and he already has most of his teeth, the dentist suggested for him to be seen early. So as a typical Type A mother, I worried. What will they do? Will they clean his teeth? Will they take x-rays? Will they need to strap him down to see his teeth? Will they find a cavity? Will Paulo cooperate? Will he cry? Will he bite? I was silently panicking in the waiting room. Meanwhile, Paulo made himself comfortable watching the movie “Finding Nemo” and practicing his toothbrushing techniques with the giant toothbrush.

After a few minutes, it was our turn. There were two chairs set up facing each other. I sat in one of them, while the dentist sat opposite from me. She was very calm and instructed me to hold Paulo facing me then to lay him back toward her so his head was resting on the pillow on her lap. She asked me to cross his arms over his chest then hold them down and keep him entertained by talking normally to him as he looked at the many colorful fish swimming in the big aquarium right next to him. (Strategic placement!) Very gently, she opened his mouth, counted his teeth, and had a quick look-see. Then she took her gloves off and gave the dental assistant her assessment of his teeth.

“No cavities, no plaque. His teeth are almost all in and they look great! You’re doing a super job of brushing his teeth!”

(If she only knew what I go through to get his toothbrush anywhere near his teeth!)

Our next dentist appointment is in 6 months. At that visit, they are going to clean his teeth. Not TRY to clean them, but actually CLEAN them. All I can say is… Good luck to the dental hygienist who’s going to be performing that task!

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